Page 74 of The Cursed Wolf King

His certainty was overwhelming, almost unbearable. I wanted to argue, to push him away, to tell him I wasn’t worth it, that whatever bond the Shadow Moon Goddess forced on us was a mistake. When I looked into his eyes, the words died in my throat.

“I promise, Eve.”

He wasn’t just saying it.

He believed it. Every word.

“I was meant to find you,” he whispered into myear. “Whatever this is—curse, fate, or whatever—it’s ours.Forever.I know that as well as I know myself. Whatever is happening to you, I swear, I won’t stop until I’ve found what you need to heal.”

His words cracked something deep inside me. “You heard her. You know what I am. How can you still?—”

“Because you’remine,” he said, his words cutting through my doubts like a blade. “You are my mate, Eve. Whatever you’re carrying, whatever weight is crushing you, it’s mine too. And I will carry it.”

The certainty in his voice left no room for argument.

“Logan…” I whispered.

His hand lifted, brushing my cheek, his thumb catching a tear. The tenderness in his touch unraveled me completely, my defenses crumbling like sand beneath a tidal wave.

“I will save you.”

The dam inside me broke. For the first time in years—maybe ever—I let myself fall.

His warmth enveloped me, a pillar as the storm inside me raged.

“I’m scared,” I admitted, the words muffled against his chest. “I don’t know how to stop this. I don’t know if I can.”

“You don’t have to,” he said, firm. “That’s my job. You just have to trust me.”

Trust. I wanted to fight it, to reject it, to hold on to the walls I’d built to protect myself. I couldn’t. Because he was here.

My fingers curled into his shirt, my breath catching as I let the reality of it settle over me.

He was mine too.

“I trust you,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

His arms tightened around me, his breath warm against my hair. “Good,” he said. “Because I’m not letting you go.”

33

LOGAN

Igripped Eve’s hand, unwilling to let even the smallest piece of her slip away. Her fingers were cold and trembling. My mind churned with everything Mariyah had revealed.

The world could burn, could crumble into ash around us, and it wouldn’t matter. She was mine to protect, and nothing—not curses, not enemies, not fate—would take her from me.

My wolf was ready to tear through anything in our path. Every fiber of me burned with purpose, a fierce determination to shield her from what we’d just heard. Whatever this curse was, whatever darkness had tangled itself into her life, it would answer to me before it touched her again.

We reached the office. The door was ajar, low murmurs cutting off as I approached. Rhys was talking, but he stopped as soon as I crossed the threshold. Every head in the room shot to us—or, more specifically, to her.

Eve stiffened beside me,holding my hand tighter.

I will protect you.It could have been me or the wolf who said it. Probably both of us.

The room was again cramped with my inner circle. Rhys, Alden, Blair and Killian, assessing Eve. Raina sat by the window, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, as usual. Isabelle stood between us all.

The energy of our pack bond was alight but turning over itself with ever-changing reactions—anticipation, wariness, and judgment tangled together like frayed rope.

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